Electrode.



PATENTED MAYBO, M. YASUDA. ELECTRODE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.21.1905.

FIGA.

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FIG. 2.

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UNITED STATES Patented May so, 1905.

P TENT OFFICE.

ELECTRODE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,308, dated May 30, 1905.

Application filed January 21, 1905. Serial No. 242,134

To all whom it mayboncerny Be it known that I, MATAIOI-II YASUDA, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing at Tokyo, in the Empire of Japan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elec-' trodes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrodes, and has particular reference to electrodes which are especially adapted for use as the cathode element in electrolysis.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a cathode and case therefor for use in the electrolytic production of an alkali hydroxid from a solution of an alkali chlorid.

I have discovered that in the electrolytic decomposition of an alkali chlorid where a current of suitable density is employed the alkali hydroxid produced adheres to or is in some manner carried upward by the hydrogenbubbles generated upon the cathode. I have further found that if the hydrogen-bubbles are caused to arise from the cathode within a casing out of contact with the electrolyte the alkali hydroxid thus carried upward by the bubbles may be retained out of contact with the electrolyte.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an electrode-case which permits of the entrance of the electrolyte adjacent to the electrode, butwhich is so arranged that the bubbles developed at the electrode will arise within the case and out of contact with the electrolyte and any salt or salt solution carried upward thereby will be retained within the electrode-case.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part of this application I have illustrated one form which I have found by experiment to be a desirable embodiment of my invention, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved electrode-case. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of my improved electrodecase, showing the preferred disposition of the several passages therein. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of my improved electrodecase, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 1

While myimproved electrode-case may be made in a variety of forms, the form which I have illustrated represents the preferred embodiment of my invention. In this embodiment the outer casing 1 is composed of porcelain, glass, or other insulating material. Adjacent to one side of the casing is disposed a partition 2, also of insulating material and forming between it and the casing 1 a passage 3, extending upwardly from an opening 4. through the external wall 1 of the case. At its lower end the partition 2 is provided with an ofiset portion 5, which thereby increases the space between it and the wall 1 and also increases the width of the passage 3 at its lower end. The electrode is preferably composed of two plates 6 and 7 the plate 6 being rigidly secured to the inner face of the walll and immediately above the opening 4. The other member, 7 of the electrode is preferably vertically disposed within the space produced by the offset portion 5 of the partition 2 and preferably approximately midway between said offset portion 5 and the other member, 6, of the electrode. Adjacent to and parallel with partition 2 is disposed a second partition 8, provided with an offset portion 9, which is also parallel with the offset portion 5. 7

Between the partition 8 9 and the partition 2 5 is formed a passage 10, communicating at 11 at its lower end with the lower end of the passage 3, which. passes below the offset portion 5 adjacent to the member 7 of the electrode. At its upper end the partition 8 con: tacts with the partition 2, and a plurality of short tubes 12 are horizontally disposed transversely of the case and communicating at one end with the passage 10. At their other ends these tubes open into the interior of the easing 1, adjacent to the wall thereof. Apartition 13 is disposed the entire length of the electrode-easing and depends from the tubes 12 adjacent to but stopping short of the bottom of the said casing and preferably disposed approximately midway between the partition 8 and the opposite wall of the easing 1. The casing 1 is provided near the bottom with an outlet 14:.

The operation of my improved cathode and case in the electrolytic production of alkali hydroxid from alkali chlorid is as follows: The casing being submerged in a solution of an alkali chlorid of adepth somewhat greater than the height of the tubes 12, the solution will enter the casing through the opening 4 and fill the same to a point above the upper opening of said tubes, provision being made for controlling the flow of the fluid from the discharge-pipe 14, and an anode being disposed within the alkali-chlorid solution, preferably opposite the opening 4, an electric current of suitable density is passed through the solution. The electrolytic action of the current on the alkali electrolyte generates hydrogen-bubbles upon the two members 6 and 7 of the cathode, which bubbles rise within the passage 3. The upward movement of the hydrogen-bubbles within this passage also carries upward the released or disassociated alkali either as such adhering to the hydrogen-bubbles or in the form of a solution. As a solution of an alkali hydroXid in water is of greater specific gravity than either water or an alkali-chlorid solution, when the alkali hydroxid is carried to the surface of the liquid by the upward current of hydrogenbubbles in the passage 3 and into the casing 1 such alkali hydroxid in the form of a more or less concentrated solution settles to the bottom of the casing 1. The undecomposed and lighter alkali chlorid is thereby forced near the surface of the solution within the casing by the solution of the hydroXid. Tubes 12 are extended adjacent to the walls of the casing 1, so that the hydroxid solution may settle downward within the casing without entering the tubes 12 or the passage 10. As the electrolysis is carried on the lighter solution near the top of the case 1 is drawn by the upward movement of the column in passage 3 through tubes 12 and passage 10 and discharged into passage 3 adjacent to the member 7 of the partition 13 is found desirable to prevent the formation of currents within the liquid, which cause agitation and interfere with the proper undisturbed settling of the denser solute. When the solution within the casing has reached the desired density, the pipe 11 may be opened to admit of a desired regulated flow of the hydroxid solution from the pipe 1 1 and of the chlorid solution into the opening 4:. In this manner the operation of electrolytic decomposition is made continuous and the electrolyte constantly admitted, while the solution containing the hydroxid may be drawn off at the pipe 14.

WVhile the cathode members 6 and 7 may be of any desired material, I lind it desirable to make them of copper with polished exposed faces. In connection with a copper cathode a carbon anode may be used, and the formation of my cathode-case prevents the oxidation of the carbon anode.

It is obvious that my electrode-case maybe made in various forms, and I do not eonline myself to the form here shown, but regard as within the scope of my invention any device wherein the decomposed material rises within the casing and is provided with means for the continued resubmission of the undecon'iposed solution to electrolytic action as described.

While I have found my electrode-case to be especially adapted for the decomposition of an alkali chlorid in the manufacture of alkali hydroxid, it is obvious that it may be used in the electrochemical decomposition of other substances as well.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An electrod e-case composed of insulating material and provided with a passage in which the electrode is disposed and through which the electrolyte enters the case adjacent to the electrode, means whereby after being subjected to electrolysis,the partially-decomposed electrolyte passes on and is retained within the case out of contact with the undecomposed electrolyte and means whereby the partially decomposed fluid within the case is repeatedly resubmitted to electrolytic action within the case to produce a more complete decomposition.

2. An electrode-case composed of insulating material and provided with a passage in which the electrode is disposed and through which the electrolyte enters the case adjacent to the electrode, means whereby after being subjected to electrolysis the partially-dccomposed electrolyte passes on and is retained within the case out of contact with the undecomposed electrolyte and means whereby the partially- .decomposed fluid within the case is repeated] y resubmitted to electrolytic action within the case to produce a more complete decomposition and means wlthm the ease for retardmg circulation of the solution of the salt produced from the electrolyte.

3. An electrode-case composed of insulating material and provided with a passage in which an electrode is disposed and through which the electrolyte enters the case adjacent to the electrode, a second passage opening adjacent to the surface of the contained liquid and com municating with the first passage adjacent to the electrode and adapted to reconvey the contained fluid into the field of electrolytic action and a reservior adapted to retain the fluid after being acted upon to a desired degree.

4. An electrode-case com posed of insulating material and provided with a passage in which an electrode is disposed and through which 'a reservoir adapted to retain the fluid after being acted upon to a desired degree and a partition disposed within the reservoir adapted toretard agitation of the contained fluid.

I In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' MATAICHI YASUDA. Witnesses:

K MAzo TERAO, GINICHIRO INUZUKA. 

